All set for opening of CARIFTA Games

All systems are in place for the successful staging of the 2016 Flow CARIFTA Games which begin tomorrow in Grenada.

More than 650 athletes and officials representing 26 countries have arrived in St. George’s ahead of today’s opening Ceremony.

“Everything is in place and we are ready for three days of exciting action,” said Veda Bruno-Victor, chairperson of the Grenada organising committee.

She was speaking during a press conference at the National Stadium in River Road, the venue for the March 26 – 28 championships.

Jamaican jumpers testing the high bar.

“We are very pleased with the organisation and we are happy to report that all elements are in place. The venue is ready, transportation is running smoothly and the athletes have settled in well. Grenada is now ready to give these young athletes a CARIFTA Games that they will never forget,” added Bruno-Victor.

During the morning session, athletes from Bonaire, the Bahamas, Curacao and Jamaica went through their paces, while competitors from Antigua, Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago got their chance in the evening.

Trinidadian athletes going for a run.

“Everything is fine and we are ready for the Games. Everyone is excited for what the coming days have in store,” said Bryan Holder, head coach of Barbados.

Holder, along with jumping coach Desiree Crichlow and throwing coach Ramon Armstrong, oversaw the final tune-up for the 32-member national team today.

“We are happy with the composition of the team and we are confident of some good results. We also haven’t seen too many nervous faces in the team which is always a good sign. I just think everyone is excited and ready to give of their best.” said Crichlow.

Barbadian athletes out on a run.

The track at the newly built National Stadium has also come in for some high praise from both coaches and athletes alike.

“I think the surface is fantastic. It’s perfect for launching into the sandpit,” said triple jumper Ronaldo Letterboom of Suriname.

Barbados jumpers Anderson Greaves and Andre Callender were also confident of good performances.

“The track is speedy, bouncy and there is plenty of friction. It will definitely help me to jump better and my run up is a lot faster. I’ll be jumping for gold this weekend,” said Greaves.

Greaves and Callender, training partners and both students of Lester Vaughn, will go head-to-head in the Under-18 long jump on Monday.

Practising ahead of the start of the games.

Flow, which is also the region’s exclusive broadcast partner for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has contracted an international production team that will capture, package and present more than 20 hours of live coverage from the National Stadium on the Flow Sports Channel (Channel 190 in Barbados).

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